#JustIn: Farmers should prepare for pasture shortages
The grazing specialist Dr Cornelis van der Waal advises farmers to create surveys of how much pasture and livestock they have and make the necessary adjustments.
This is because the current rainy season is coming to an end and has generally performed below average.
Van der Waal says satellite data by Namibia Rangelands shows that vegetation over most parts of Namibia showed a decline in March. The available pasture in areas such as the Hardap, ||Kharas, southern Omaheke, Oshana, the greater Erongo and large parts of the Kunene as well as the Omusati region is currently far below average.
The rest of the country is currently experiencing normal to slightly below average vegetation growth.
He says that in general, the southern, central and western parts of the country have been worst affected. "In many of the areas, dry conditions continued to prevail throughout the rainy season, meaning little pasture grew," he adds.
He says it is essential that farmers now focus on preventing pasture shortages during the coming rainy season. Other possible management options include making bush food or providing additional feeding or grazing.
This is because the current rainy season is coming to an end and has generally performed below average.
Van der Waal says satellite data by Namibia Rangelands shows that vegetation over most parts of Namibia showed a decline in March. The available pasture in areas such as the Hardap, ||Kharas, southern Omaheke, Oshana, the greater Erongo and large parts of the Kunene as well as the Omusati region is currently far below average.
The rest of the country is currently experiencing normal to slightly below average vegetation growth.
He says that in general, the southern, central and western parts of the country have been worst affected. "In many of the areas, dry conditions continued to prevail throughout the rainy season, meaning little pasture grew," he adds.
He says it is essential that farmers now focus on preventing pasture shortages during the coming rainy season. Other possible management options include making bush food or providing additional feeding or grazing.
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Namibian Sun
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